Former One Direction singer Zayn Malik signs new solo record deal with RCA

Four months after leaving the boy band One Direction to be a "normal 22-year old", Zayn Malik has signed a new deal with record company RCA Records.

The 22-year old singer posted a photograph of him signing the deal and took a dig at his former band members saying: "I guess I never explained why I left, it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who I really am! #realmusic #RCA ... #REALME."

Malik is working with R&B producer Malay, who has collaborated with singers like Franck Ocean and John Legend. He has also signed with Iggy Azalea's management company Turn First, where he will be guided by Sarah Stennett, who is charge of the Australian rapper.

The Guardian suggests that these moves indicate Zayn's music will be more adult and less pop compared to One Direction's.

The newspaper notes that Zayn was following in the footsteps of a long line of pop stars who left successful bands to "pursue music they feel is more authentic as opposed to the manufactured material that made them famous."

It cited George Michael who left Wham! to become a successful solo artist, with his debut album Faith selling 25 million copies while Robbie Wiliams ditched Take That to become a solo artist as well. Williams however never managed to break the US market.

Guardian notes that both Michael and Williams remain exceptions in forging successful solo careers after leaving their bands.

Simon Cowell said in a tweet that they had been working on this for a while and was pleased that Malik had signed on with RCA Records. He said RCA was the perfect label for Malik's solo career and "I am sure whatever they release together will be special."

A source had earlier told Sun that it was a bit difficult for Simon to have both One Direction and Malik on the same label and that it would make sense for him to work with a new label team.

The Daily Mail said One Direction fans were divided over Zayn Malik's latest move to make "real music".

It said the internet went into meltdown when Malik tweeted the news and that the hashtag #realmusic soon began trending on the social networking site.

While most of One Direction's fans enthused that they could not wait to hear Malik's new solo debt and would definitely be at the front row at his future concerts, some fans were clearly not happy.

"So I've been listening to fake music for five years? Well I like it," one fan said.